Steven,
I have an 1893 ladies Lenox with original hard-as-rock and totally flat unobtainium tires. It has wooden rims, a wooden fender, cord skirtguard, and a front spoon brake. The frame design is quite weak, and the seat tube is bent because of it, no doubt after very few miles, judging from its condition. I bet it would ride terribly and be unsafe. Under your mantra, do you suggest I make up some tires and ride it or, since it would be a lousy rider, should I just throw it away? It doesn't look like you value the idea of my just keeping it in its current condition as evidence of technology of the past.
Classic content: it's a lugged frame with very lightweight tubing and the tires were glued on. The bike is extremely light--was Lenox a constructeur?
Steve Barner, enquiring minds want to know, Bolton, Vermont
> Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 17:23:33 -0700
> From: "stevens" <stevens@veloworks.com>
> To: "J.Dunn" <bikehunter@msn.com>, <sandranian@yahoo.com>,
> <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Subject: Re: Re: [CR]1983?? Guess I'm looking for a new list...
> Message-ID: <20030604002333.M47139@veloworks.com>
> In-Reply-To: <012901c32a3b$df284060$0201a8c0@pacbell.net>
> References: <20030603231551.63184.qmail@web11004.mail.yahoo.com>
> <012901c32a3b$df284060$0201a8c0@pacbell.net>
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>
>
> I think that anyone who knows me would agree that I rarely
> "agree with the party line" ... any party line. I'm here
> to learn of the history, and gain perspective on what has
> changed over the years. My oldest bike, on the other hand,
> is vintage 1997 ... and about the only way I'll ever acquire
> a 1971 Masi is if someone presents me one, "just cuz".
>
> I figure pre-turn of the 21st century is good enough for me
> from a vintage standpoint ... and bikes is for ridin', not
> sittin'.
>
> Put it this way ... if I acquired a pristine Confente in my
> size, I'd ride it. In the rain. On purpose. That way it
> would lose its "oooh ... must protect the value at all costs"
> lustre right off the bat.
>
--Snip---
>
> Steven L. Sheffield